Conspiracy charge against Ardent refuted
From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: Pained by the allegation that his agitation is politically motivated, Pynskhemlang Nongshlong, who has been on fast to protest against non-resolution of the Assam-Meghalaya boundary dispute since June 30, has made it clear that he does not belong to any political party or any NGO namely People’s Movement.
“People’s Movement is only supporting us and it is not a part of it,” Nongshlong said while speaking to The Shillong Times here on Sunday.
He said he is staging a protest as a responsible youth of the state.
“The death of the four people at Langpih, who were killed by the Assam Police on 14 May 2012, deeply pained me,” he said adding “if the Assam Govt felt that Langpih was a part of Assam then why they treated the people of Langpih so harshly.”
Meanwhile, the protesters are admitted to the Nongstoin Civil Hospital. Until evening they are yet to announce the venue for their fast. Pynskhemlang said he would announce the venue on Monday after a discussion with other members.
It may be mentioned that five protesters – Pynskhemlang, Mrs Piarnalin Nongphud, Mrs Brelinda Kharlyngdoh, Mrs Phisila Nonglang and Miss Fullness Nongphud – resumed their fast-unto-death on Saturday, while three other protesters – Elendro Dkhar, Brelishon and Miss Useful Nongphud – could not join in the fast as they were referred to the Shillong Civil Hospital.
Meanwhile, the doctors at Nongstoin Civil hospital are keeping a close watch on the health condition of Pynskhemlang and others.
People’s Movement refutes conspiracy charge: Meanwhile, the People’s Movement (PM), a group spearheading the fight to solve the long pending border dispute with neighbouring Assam, has refuted the allegation that its leader Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit had conspired to force Pynskhemlang Nongshlong and others to call off their ongoing fast-unto-death.
Terming the charge ‘misleading’, Hamlet Dohling, a member of People’s Movement, in a statement on Sunday said, “The decision to call off the fast was taken at a public meeting.”
“The fact remains that it is the People’s Movement which had started this campaign demanding early settlement of the inter-state boundary dispute with Assam,” he said. Despite the attempts to demoralize the leaders of the Movement by coming up with such false allegation, Dohling said they would continue their campaign.
He, meanwhile, informed that the Movement would be holding a public meeting at Mawlasnai village, Ri-Bhoi district on July 17.